From the publication HoyCorrientes on December 16, 2013, we read of a recent fossil discovery related to the current “River Tiger” or GoldenDorado found in the Uruguay River of South America.

On the banks of the Parana fished a golden 8 million years old

“(In the Gallery Below) is the first fossil record of a golden. His head, found in excellent condition, allowed a detailed description of this issue and know what these fish predators during the Miocene. Many anglers often brag and pose for the picture, after taking a golden water of certain dimensions. Meanwhile, Argentine paleontologists rescued a copy that may have exceeded 50 inches, but most important is not your size, but allowed to know the past of these important fish fauna in South American rivers.”

Read the full story Here at CorrientesHoy.com. Remember to open with Google translator.

It looks like the “River Tiger” or some close family member may have been around for a long, long time. I’m sure we’ll be hearing much more as this exploration and story continues to develop. In the mean time, I can’t wait to get reacquainted with the most current family members of the GoldenDorado found below the Salto Grande Dam in the Uruguay River of South America.

The most recent report for South American GoldenDorado fishing includes one massive behemoth of the species, Salmius maxillosus. Check this out!

(Photo Credit Steve Townson)

According to Amazon Angler Steve Townson, his client/angler Andrei Bylchynski “is responsible for catching the largest GoldenDorado ever recorded in South America. At well over 60lbs, if it would have been weighed officially on land, it would have broken the World Record by an estimated 6-8 lbs.”

The massive GoldenDorado was caught while casting a deep diving Rapala X Rap in the world famous tail waters of Salto Grande on the Uruguay River, Uruguay, SA. in the area known as “La Zona” [The Zone]. It is reported that when the behemoth was weighed on a 60lb boga grip, it bottomed out the internal scale.

This fish certainly appears to be one of the largest GoldenDorado ever landed, perhaps the largest! Under IGFA (International Game Fish Association) certification guidelines any attempt to establish a certified record would require the specimen to be weighed on land. The fish was not and therefore a challenge to the all tackle world record * will not be forthcoming. If it would have been properly weighed on land and the numerous other certification details completed correctly it would have most likely entered the record books as a new All Tackle World Record.

[*Record presently stands at 55 pounds 11 ounces]

We reported to you a few weeks ago of another angler in the group with angler Scott Krug who reported a GoldenDorado catch in early November of a giant well over 50#. There have been numerous others reported to landing cradle over the 55 pounds 11 ounces, the current world record mark as well. We have no doubt that these giants reside in the tails waters below Salto Grande and are being landed with more regularity.

There is no denying, this is one giant Golden and a magical catch for Andrei.

But it leaves me with this comment to my angling brothers. Somebody please, when you land the next “River Tiger” of this magnitude, with all due respect and caution, run that puppy to land, weigh it on a certified scale, measure it, clip the line, take a few proper photo’s, clean up any necessary IGFA certification loose ends, get that Golden Torpedo back in the water and then let’s move this bar up to 60# or more where it appears that it should legitimately now rest.

Congratulations Angler Andrei Bylchynski. Hats off to you and your tremendous catch!

If GoldenDorado fishing is on your angling bucket list, contact us soon for all the details and schedule a trip to the World Famous Exclusive Tail Waters of Grande Salto, Uruguay, and the area know as LaZona!

Adventure angler Scott Krug recently returned from South America and his first encounter with Salminus brasiliensis, the famed GoldenDorado. Or, as the locals prefer, the “River Tiger.”

“I have been fortunate to fish all over North and South America and never have I dealt with a freshwater fish so strong and difficult to land.”

“After hearing and reading so much the last five years about the fabulous fishing for GoldenDorado at a place known as La Zona on the Uruguay River, I finally got my chance to fish there earlier this month. I joined a great group of guys from Great Britain and we arrived in camp late on October 31st only to learn the water was quite high and very discolored. As a result, the fishing was tougher than usual but there were still some nice fish being caught.

We pushed off the next morning and headed up to the dam where the fishing is quite regulated. The hydroelectric dam is a joint venture between Argentina and Uruguay and only two boats from each country are permitted to fish immediately below the dam. In addition, fishing in the restricted area is allowed only for four days in a given week.

The fishing conditions at the dam are like nothing I have ever encountered. The turbulence and current from the turbine discharges is tremendous and the crazy part of it is that this is where the fish are. Never would I have imagined that one could successfully fish in those conditions but we did.

Because of the high water, deeper diving lures like the CD 18 Rapala worked best which was somewhat disappointing because I was hoping to catch some fish on surface lures. Some in our group also tried fly fishing which proved to be mostly ineffective because of the high water.Thus, we pounded the current and turbulence areas with deeper running plugs and spinnerbaits and managed to catch some fish.

My muskie baitcasting tackle proved to be perfect for these conditions. I brought seven foot heavy duty graphite rods, quality reels such as the Calcutta 300TE loaded with 80 lb. Spectron line, and 90 lb. Sevenstrand leaders with Stringease Stay-Lok snaps. All lures were upgraded with stronger split rings and hooks and I was glad I did. These fish will really test/wreck your equipment as others in the group found out.

One fellow in our group did very well on big fish landing two 46 lb. fish, a 50 lber., and another well over 50 pounds! I went down with the hope of catching one 40 lbs. or better and ended up with a 40 lber., 42 lber., and a 44 lber. We caught a lot of fish over 20 lbs. and lost many more.

Everyone was quite impressed with the strength and power of these fish. I have been fortunate to fish all over North and South America and never have I dealt with a freshwater fish so strong and difficult to land. The only fish I can compare them too is the Tarpon I have caught on the Rio Colorado River in Costa Rica which is saying a lot!

I fully intend to get back to La Zona and would like to do so under lower water conditions. Everything I had read about the fighting ability and toughness of this fish proved to be true. GoldenDorado are a great challenge, a lot of fun, and anyone who enjoys fishing should consider this fishery.” __Scott Krug

I’ve written before about the brute strength of the GoldenDorado and the degree of difficulty from “hookup to landing cradle”. The strong, bone hard jaws with double rows of teeth, sometimes referred to as the “steel trap” make the “River Tiger” one of the toughest freshwater game fish on the planet today.

Two veterans of the PeacockBass Fraternity, friend Greg Thompson and his buddy Bobby Foster, returned recently from an Amazon Fishing Adventure aboard the Santanawith with a testimony better than any fish story.

[Photo credit Greg Thompson (center) and Kansas City Star]

“But most of all they talked about friendships.”

“We coined a phrase, ‘Have a Bobby Foster Day.’ Bobby always has a great attitude. He’s always exactly where he wants to be, with who he wants to be with, and doing what he wants to do.

“This trip was about Bobby. This was Bobby’s time.”

Thompson organized a party of 11 of Foster’s friends for a trip back to the Amazon River Adventures business that had guided them in the past. Thompson had special shirts made, the staff threw parties in Foster’s honor, and the fishermen sat around and swapped fish stories of past trips.

BTW…The PeacockBass fishing wasn’t to bad according to Greg Thompson…this PeacockBass veteran had two PeacockBass monsters over 20# and the big PeacockBass of the week was 23# caught by another veteran, Nelson Burnell.

The fall feeding frenzy is on around the Mississippi Delta region and Captain Keith Kennedy of Born to Fish Charters is on A TON of Redfish! 2013 has proven to be a great year for Captain Keith’s clients and their quest for the Ole’ Channel Bass. It appears that the fall season will be no different. Friend Gary Clark and his Texas cousins just finished a three day fishing trip with Captain Keith and Gary is convinced that “well over one ton of Redfish made their way into the boat over the three day frenzy.”

Gary’s full report follows:

Well, guys, it’s always a pleasure to send you a report following one of my frequent trips to Venice, Louisiana to redfish with Capt. Keith Kennedy, but this one is truly exceptional.

Two of my favorite cousins, Joe and Lynn Payne, from Austin, Texas, and I have been trying to get together for a redfish trip for a couple of years now, and we finally got our three schedules to match up with one another. I had been bragging on Keith and the terrific fishing he produces, but I thought perhaps I had gone a bit overboard when I saw the THREE ice chests that they had in the Suburban that they picked me up in at the New Orleans airport. Not to worry! Day one alone saw 71 bull reds come into the boat!

That was followed by 38 the second day and then an even 40 on the third day for a total of 149! Put another way, given the large average size, well over one TON of redfish made their way into the boat over the three day frenzy!

As usual, popping corks and various plastics produced extremely well, but this time the reds also blasted big topwater Chug Bugs with a vengeance and nailed Rattletraps pumped up and down off the bottom. Even the plastics under a cork were met with explosions like hand grenades going off! Several nice trout and one big Jack Crevalle also found there way to the boat.

To top it all off, we were blessed with near perfect wind and weather conditions for the whole trip. Keith has experienced one of his best summers ever and it appears that it is going to continue for quite some time to come. It would not surprise me at all to see the exceptional fishing continue well into December, so it’s not too late to squeeze in one more fishing trip with him if you book soon.

Joe and Lynn were super impressed with Keith’s gastronomic delights and his attention to clients’ wants and needs in every aspect of the trip. Just like everyone else that I’ve introduced to the Captain, they are already making plans for a return trip.

Captain Keith can accommodate groups of 3 or 6. His packages are all inclusive with lodging, meals, guides, boats and even tackle provided. Give him a call today at (504) 908-3108 to set up your next fishing adventure to the beaches and bays of the Venice, LA Delta region for some world class light tackle fishing.

Call me anytime and I’ll get you hooked up with the Captain. Maybe you too will encounter and report on A TON of REDFISH!

This article focuses on destination, guide, gear, primary lure selection and technique for catching the Monster Bull Redfish of the Mississippi Delta region. Check it out Here.

“Bucket Bend, Middle Ground, Dead Woman’s Pass. Wouldn’t you like to know the stories behind these names? During most every trip at some point we pass the lighthouse at Pass a l’Outre. If only lighthouses could talk. History began for the first lighthouse at the entrance to the mighty Mississippi in 1852. I’m sure Pass a l’Outre could tell us a thing or two. Like how Dead Woman’s Pass got it’s name. Like why the area is sometimes a magnet for Monster Bull Redfish.”

Look for more articles like this in the months ahead in the Fishing the Americas column. Sign up for your free subscription of PursuitChannel Magazine now at the following address http://www.pursuitchannel.com

In Search of Gold or the Golden Dorado of the Uruguay River Exclusive Tail Waters

In October 2011 I finally had the fortunate opportunity to fish the Uruguay River Exclusive Tail Waters beneath the dam of Salto Grande reservoir located at the Argentina-Uruguay border for Golden Dorado. Over the last few years I had heard some pretty incredible stories about this destination and the fresh water dynamo – the Golden Dorado – that reside in this river.After having been there and immersed in the challenge, I can verify that these astonishing accounts about the monster Dorados of Salto Grande were not simply “fish stories” but were absolutely genuine.

I use the word dynamo here because it has in its meaning…hard-working and tirelessly energetic. That describes what the locals call “The River Tiger” quite well…with razor sharp teeth and bone hard jaws, this golden torpedo often engages in leaping aerial displays 4-7 times, or more, per hook up.No other destination in the world offers such Giants of the Golden Dorado like this Exclusive Tail Waters below the Salto Grande Dam. The fishery is rigorously restricted, controlled, managed and maintained. Government concessions are contracted to one outfitter on the Argentina side of the River and one outfitter on the Uruguay side.

Remember, these Salminus brasiliensis live in fast and highly turbulent waters. They are 10x strong because of it and they never let up after hook up. If you can manage to keep them “hooked up,” you’re in for a exhaustive tango with one of the hardest working and most tirelessly energeticfreshwater game fish on the planet today! They will wear you out and take even the most “veteran” angler to the mat on more than several occasions. Until you become familiar with The River Tiger’s “game” you will find success rare in bringing the Golden Dynamo to the landing cradle.

Looking for the fishing adventure of a lifetime? This one sits right at the top. Think of it this way. In approximately one square mile over 20 world records of various classes have been taken for this species. It is estimated that in the last three seasons over 500 Dorado have been successfully landed over 40#.

We are pleased to be aligned with Luis Browns’ River Plate Dorado’s, outfitters for the Uruguay side. I can assure you that River Plate Dorado’s fits the bill in keeping with our motto…“adventure sport fishing with a passion for excellence.”

Patrick Brown, the operations manager and host for River Plate Dorado’s, as well as the entire staff and support crew share this same passion for“exceeding the expected.”

Your accommodations, fine dining and amenities at the Hotel Horacio Quiroga Thermal Spa and Resort take this destination to the top of our list of exotic sport fishing destinations! Plan a fishin’ expedition someday soon in search of the “River Tiger” or the Golden Dorado of the Uruguay River.

Your fishing adventure of a lifetime is just a phone call away…call anytime!

Tighter lines are in order,

David Fields

International Angler / Trip Consultant / Host

direct 618.237.7384

Fishing the Americas most exciting and exoticsport fishing adventure destinations like the Uruguay River in South America for Golden Dorado!

A big CONGRATULATIONS goes out to Plainfield, Illinois hook and bow angler, Jacob Dupes for his new IDNR record grass carp!

Ed DeVries, President of The Bowfishing Assn. of Illinois reports. Looks like a new State Record Grass Carp has been caught for the bowfishing record book. The first ever submission for a IDNR bowfishing record was submitted today with this 33.7lb fish shot by BAI member Jacob Dupes in the DesPlaines River near Wilmington.

Jacob saw the fish about 15yds in front of his boat near the Dupage river channel marker and made a nice long shot. After the fish pulled his boat around the river for a while, he was able to get it close enough to gaff and set the new record. The fish was 41 in. long and had a 24in. girth. The BAI congratulates Jacob on setting the new official IDNR record for grass carp!

Tom Gantt, Jim Quinn, and I arrived for our latest trip to Venice, LA on Monday with a fair amount of trepidation. Reports of a high Mississippi River, along with a weather forecast calling for strong winds, rain, and a passing cold front had us a bit uptight to say the least. Adding to these potential problems was fog that met us at the launch ramp. Captain Keith was very confident however, and knew precisely where he wanted to start. A run of about an hour took us to that spot where we were met with pretty green water and a few rollers, but no bites.

Not to be deterred, Captain Keith then made one move down the beach and BINGO, we were into the Redfish…the bull reds that is! Everybody got bit, but Jim showed us what was to be the bait of the day—a black and chartreuse H & H Cocahoe Minnow on a jig head. He nailed a 30 pounder and then one that went 36 pounds. Tom and I kept pace and around noon,then I hooked up with the beautiful 40 pound Redfish shown in the photo. If I look like I’m struggling to hold it up, it’s because I was!!! With the weather deteriorating, we called it a day about 2 PM and headed back after boating some 25 redfish, with most weighing 20 to 30 pounds.

All the very best,

Gary Clark

Well friends, the Giant Bull Reds of South Pass are on the beaches and this is my favorite time of year to hunt them. I’m headin’ down with a group May 30. Season is fully in gear…several groups are already booked so spaces are limited. Pick some dates and give me a call. I’ll do my best to get you hooked up with the best in Bull Redfish action!